Maryland in 1776 invested in a ship called the _Defence_ carrying twenty-two 6-pounders, the largest vessel of her coming small navy; two schooners and seven row galleys formed the remainder. All except two galleys and a schooner were sold in 1779, but British success in the South renewed depredations in the Chesapeake, and four large barges to carry twenty-five men each and 9 and 18 pounders and a schooner to carry ten 4-pounders were ordered. In 1782, depredations continuing, a ship and four additional barges were ordered, and in November of that year such vessels fought a severe and most gallant action with an overpowering British force of the same character, the _Protector_, which bore the brunt of the action on the American side, losing fifty-four killed and wounded out of her crew of sixty-five. “Except when used for commercial purposes, Maryland’s vessels rarely passed outside the capes at the mouth of the Chesapeake.” Virginia entered upon the question of a navy with enthusiasm and a number of vessels were authorized; the two frigates voted were, however, never built. Actual construction was confined to galleys and schooners; the number first and last, though very considerable, is indefinite. The state established a navy yard on the Chickahominy, operated a ropewalk, and established naval magazines. The whole force practically disappeared during the raid by Phillips and Arnold when on April 27, 1780, a few miles below Richmond, six ships, eight brigs, five sloops, two schooners, and several smaller vessels and the ropewalk at Warwick were destroyed; twelve were captured which had escaped destruction, and but one vessel remained in the Virginia navy, the armed boat _Liberty_. A small force later, in 1782, was gathered which operated in the Chesapeake (within which the Virginia force remained almost entirely during the war) until peace in 1783.